A computer storage device is a piece of hardware that is predominantly used to store data. Computer storage devices are not necessarily restricted to use in the storage of data. They are essential for the smooth running of operations and applications on your computer as well.
Everything that you do on your computer, be it running an application or just opening a sheet is saved, at least temporarily, into the memory of your computer.
Every computer, ranging from a mobile phone to a heavy desktop computer, is integrated with its built-in memory. It consists of temporary memory, RAM, and permanent storage ROM, which both affect your computer's speed heavily.
Apart from built-in internal memory, many external storage devices come in many different shapes and forms and offer varying storage capacities. These can be plugged in and out of the computer and act as secondary data storage devices that back up the computer in case of data loss.
Internal Storage Devices
A computer without internal storage devices, to store and cumulate your data in a secure place, is just like a bank with no vaults to deposit your money in. Such a computer would pretty much end up useless, wouldn't it? As crucial as storing data is, choosing the right storage component for sound data keeping is also entirely of the essence. The biggest question, however, is: Which internal storage device is conveniently precise for your needs?
Desktop Hard Drive
A Desktop Hard Drive Disk is generally 3.5-inch computer hardware installed internally in the CPU of the computer. It is a non-volatile electromagnetic device that can store large numbers of data in binary numbers 0s and 1s for an extended period.
These bits are represented by billions of magnetized fragments present on spinning metal disks that form concentric circles called tracks or platters. This way, the actuator arm, responsible for reading information on the hard drive, quickly scans the spinning metal disks and can read digital information on the Hard disk by magnetizing each fragment.
Server Hard Drive
A hard disk drive responsible for holding a vast amount of data passed through a network is called the server hard drive. As the name suggests, a server hard drive is part of a server present in a robust network. To smoothly coordinate data, servers make use of the server hard drives as they are highly reliable, offer a very high speed, and ensure high security of data.
High-end servers use the SAS (Statistical Software Suite) hard drives that are generally more durable than the SATA (Serial AT Attachment) hard drives utilized by low power consumption servers.
Laptop Hard Drive
Laptop hard drives are essentially similar to Desktop Hard drives and perform the same way that they do. The only exception is in terms of size. Laptop hard drives are more lightweight, compact, and usually less power-consuming. They are non-volatile memory devices that are generally 2.5 inches in size and can store only as much data as a typical desktop hard drive.
Printer Hard Drive
Most printers that are a part of a multi-user environment are manufactured with a hard drive built-in to allow swift printing of many documents printed at the same time. A built-in storage memory drive in printers enables the printer to hold data that can be printed any number of times later in the future as well. This makes the printer much faster, especially if it is part of a massive network of devices.
The printer hard drive stores a copy of everything you print to pose a security risk for large corporations that have confidential data they cannot afford to reveal.
Solid State Drives
Solid State Drives or SSD are an enhanced version of the traditional HDDs. They do not use magnetic fragments or disks but are dependent on flash memories called NAND that consist of billions of transistors in a series. They change the electrical current of circuits that are part of the drive. This gives them the advantage of being able to operate without making use of any moving parts.
They are much smoother and faster than the typical HDDs and last longer due to less mechanical work. However, they are more expensive than HDDs.
Storage Peripherals
Cache Battery
The cache battery is integrated into the cache buffer that is a part of a RAID disk controller. The cache buffer is responsible for speeding up data transfer from the processor to the hard disk. The cache battery makes sure that while the data is in the cache buffer, it remains safe and secure until it is sent to the disk drive.
This cache battery is pretty much responsible for keeping your data safe. However, under any circumstances, should the battery fail, your data is never lost, but the system performance does slow down quite a bit.
Fiber Channel Controller
A fiber channel controller makes use of the fiber channel (FC) that is a high-speed data transmission protocol that provides high rates of up to 128 GBs/second. In business enterprises like data centers, fiber channels create a path from the computer storage to the servers present within a network such as SAN.
SCSI Controller
A SCSI or the Small Computer System Interface controller either comes in the form of a card that can be plugged into the system or as an onboard interface built into the main logic board of your computer. The SCSI controller is also known as an HBA- Host Bus Adapter. It is responsible for letting the storage device and the operating system communicate with each other along with a SCSI hub.
SATA and SAS controllers
SATA and SAS controllers work pretty much the same way. They are both hardware interfaces allowing a smooth, natural flow of data to and from the computer's hard disk to the motherboard or the CPU of the computer.
These controllers are built differently but work the same way with some distinct differences such as:
SAS provides a more speedy interface by reading and writing data onto the computer and has a vast arrangement of connectors set in a continuous session. They are ideal for use in workstations and servers. They are more expensive than SATA controllers.
SATA is mainly ideal for storage basis as it provides a platform for easy read-and-write data and hence is budget-friendly devices for small-scale enterprises.
Hard Drive Enclosures
A hard drive enclosure is a specific case intended to bear and power hard disk drives while also providing a platform to interact with one or more different computers effectively.
Drive enclosures power drives fitted within them and convert the data sent over the drive into a format that can be used by third-party hardware that is a part of the computer to which it is connected.
Hard Drive Enclosure can add extra room and media types to small form factors (SMF), PCs, fixed, embedded frameworks, for example, computerized video recorders, and computer game consoles.
It also adds more space by adding more drives to some random workstations than their structure can hold and moves information between unconnected PCs.
Firewire Devices
Firewire devices make use of the firewire method of data transferring between digital devices. The data transmitted is usually in audio and video format. Firewire devices can be connected and disconnected from the computer without having to shut it down first. This makes them hot-swappable. Just like USB, Firewire devices are another renowned method of adding storage peripherals to the PC. Digital cameras, high-performance hard drives, and any other devices requiring a high data transfer rate are firewire devices and use firewire technology.
Firewire technology offers too high data transfer rates up to 800 Mbps.
Enterprise Storage
Network Attached Storage
A NAS or Network Storage Device is a storage device that is a part of a public network of an enterprise or a large/small scale business. The NAS storage device allows the retrieval and storage of data over a central location accessible to all users that have authorization to the network.
This method of NAS storage is quicker, more affordable, and gives all the advantages of a public cloud nearby, giving you full oversight. These devices are extendable, which means that you can add to the storage if you ever run short of what's already available.
NAS systems are easy to function, they're inexpensive, and they provide a common data storage platform for all employees and staff to collaborate.
Storage Area Network
A SAN is a highly particularised, high-speed network device that controls data flow within a particular network. SANs are applicable in large-scale business enterprises that need to use an efficient system of hosts, switches, routers, and hard drives over a carefully administered system consisting of many network protocols and technologies.
SANs commonly utilize the Fibre Channel protocol to enable transmission of data to and from the computer to the hard drive.
Backup Drives
Tape Drives
A tape drive is a storage device that reads and writes data swiftly and efficiently over a magnetic strip. Unlike a hard disk drive that offers direct access to data storage, tape drives operate on sequential access storage. A tape drive must coil tape around reels multiple times to be able to read data written. Hence tape drives tend to provide a lower average access time as compared to hard drives. A tape drive is a removable device generally used for a safe backup of data and archiving purposes.
LTO Media
LTO media or the Linear Tape-Open Media is a traditional magnetic tape that originated in the 90s. It also goes by the name LTO Ultrium format, referring to the technology that it makes use of. It is designed to offer ultimate storage capacity and a very high performance unparalleled to other magnetic tape drives. Like a tape drive, it is mainly used for offline backup purposes. It can offer a data storage capacity of up to a hundred terabytes per cartridge.
Blank CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray
DVD Media
DVD media falls under the category of digital optical disc data storage format. It is short for Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc. This storing data method is highly reliable, especially for audio and video formats or digital data of any sort. It comes in many shapes and forms, ranging from DVD-RAM and ROM to Recordable and Rewritable DVD. DVD media allows you to record large data files, especially since it offers a comparatively large storage capacity.
Blank CD
There are two types of blank CDs for storing your data in a digital optical disc storage format: CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable). The other is CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable).
CD-R
CD-R is mainly used to record audio written onto it by a CD burner. Once data has been written onto the CD-r, it cannot be changed or erased. Similarly, once a CD has been written over, it cannot write more data if it reaches its full capacity. This kind of data backup is permanent since it cannot be changed.
CD-RW
CD-RWs are a temporary method of storing data, as they can be rewritten and erased according to one's desire. The data can be rewritten but cannot be altered, meaning that for you to change the recorded data, you would have to erase the previously written data and start over with a clean CD. CD-RWs are usually pricier than the typical traditional CD-Rs.
External Storage
USB Flash Drive
A USB flash drive is a secondary method of storing data. The USB flash drive acts as a storage device with an amalgamation of the flash memory within a USB interface.
This removable storage device is ideal for rewriting large amounts of data as it comes with multiple variations with increasing storage capacities. USB drives now offer up to 1 and 2 Terabytes of storage capacities as well.
Compared to floppy disks, USB drives are a much more effective and faster method of storing and backing up data from the computer. The data written on a USB drive can be altered and erased. It offers high durability.
External Hard Drive
An external hard drive, also known as a portable hard drive, is an internal hard drive connected outside the computer. It works similar to the internal hard drive, storing data permanently for later use. External hard drives provide enormous storage capacities, up to 1 Terabyte. These hard drives connect to the computer via a USB, a SATA connection, Firewire, or even wirelessly.
An example of external hard drives is a flash drive. Flash drives offer an easy application and can store large amounts of data that can be carried around outside your computer.
Network Storage Devices
These devices are equipped with the technology that supports and caters to excessive storage needs through its specialized design to interconnect with multiple servers of different magnitudes located on a vast combination of devices.
Network Storage Devices are best suited to provide organizations with the ability to manage, control, and customize their storage efficiently and effectively.
